Bach on Broadway

Yesterday when I posted a little blip about Bono doing Broadway, it got me thinking about about other musicians who have tried their hands at working on the Great White Way. Besides Elton John, who worked on The Lion King, and Aida, and what I'm told was a horrible adaptation of Interview With The Vampire, I could only come up with David Bryan, Bon Jovi's keyboardist. Memphis will open in the fall, following on the heels of The Toxic Avenger - although honestly, I don't care if Jon Bon Jovi himself starred in it, I wouldn't see a play about that nasty looking comic book character if you paid me (I guess lots of other people felt the same way).





Then I remembered. Sebastian Bach.






I've been a fan of Sebastian Bach since I first heard Skid Row back in the late 80s. He had a killer vocal range, and he was gorgeous to boot. After he parted ways with Skid Row, I lost track of him for a while until I heard he was appearing on Broadway in the title role in Jekyll and Hyde. It was a must see show.





Bach appeared as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde from April to October 2000. The role seemed tailor made for him. As Edward Hyde, he had the vocal chops to carry the songs like a veteran musical theater performer, projecting his voice throughout the theater and putting his heart into the performance. However, it was as Dr. Henry Jekyll that he kept me riveted to my seat. He brought his rock star attitude to the character and imbued him with a sense of rock 'n roll savagery that was breathtaking. The character is violent, and Bach's vocal style, his lanky frame and sheet of blond hair added another element to Jekyll that somehow I don't think the producers foresaw when the show was created. Bach's natural showmanship really kicked the crap out of the role.



One of the things I remember most clearly about the show was the curtain call at the end of the show. Sebastian came out to take a bow, and was handed a bouquet of red roses. Anyone who has ever seen him perform knows what came next. He bit some of the blooms off the flowers and spit them back at the audience, who gave him a well deserved standing ovation. I immediately flashed back to getting covered with petals at Skid Row's gig at the Ritz back in June 1989. Broadway or not, he's a rock star to the tips of his boots.

Bach played Jekyll and Hyde in between Jack Wagner and David Hassellhoff, and I can't imagine either of them in the role or performing it with the gusto and, quite frankly, balls that Sebastian did. I wish he'd return to the street of dreams. I'd be first in line to see the show.